CSGxMXP Touring Competition Catback Review

[ajcarson11]

Evening All,

Just received/installed this catback and the exhaust itself looks great and was well packed. Install was easy until I finished up and noticed that the passenger's side tip was very mis-aligned. I took the entire exhaust back off the car twice, adding one piece back into the mix at a time and I'm still unable to get the passenger's side to sit properly. The tip is just a few millimetres from touching the plastic bumper cutout, while the driver's side sits perfectly in the middle of the cutout.

Here is the passenger side:



Even with all of the piping disconnected (and the muffler just sitting on hangers) i have to put a substantial amount of downward force on the front right hanger to get the exhaust to sit properly -- so it appears to be an issue with where the hangers were welded onto the muffler. I've messaged CSG on this.

I should note that i'm running a UEL catless header with stock front pipe and overpipe.

I wouldn't normally care too much about a misalignment of the tips, but for $869 I really want things to be right.

[JoeeStacks]

Originally Posted by ajcarson11

Evening All,

Just received/installed this catback and the exhaust itself looks great and was well packed. Install was easy until I finished up and noticed that the passenger's side tip was very mis-aligned. I took the entire exhaust back off the car twice, adding one piece back into the mix at a time and I'm still unable to get the passenger's side to sit properly. The tip is just a few millimetres from touching the plastic bumper cutout, while the driver's side sits perfectly in the middle of the cutout.

Here is the passenger side:

Even with all of the piping disconnected (and the muffler just sitting on hangers) i have to put a substantial amount of downward force on the front right hanger to get the exhaust to sit properly -- so it appears to be an issue with where the hangers were welded onto the muffler. I've messaged CSG on this.

I should note that i'm running a UEL catless header with stock front pipe and midpipe.

I wouldn't normally care too much about a misalignment of the tips, but for $869 I really want things to be right.

I don’t have this exhaust, but it looks like there is a pipe that you could twist to make it align properly. A common alignment problem on the Perrin exhausts.

Originally Posted by CSG David

Slip joints used to make the fitment dead on. Some cars have different bumpers and not all of them fit perfectly. This exhaust allows the adjustments at multiple points to make the exhaust fit "perfectly" given a specific vehicle.

[ajcarson11]

Originally Posted by JoeeStacks

I don’t have this exhaust, but it looks like there is a pipe that you could twist to make it align properly. A common alignment problem on the Perrin exhausts.

Thanke Joe -- I've just read through the Perrin installation instructions, and all of the threads I can find on Perrin alignment. A common theme that I see with the perrin alignment is that folks can get things to line up when there is no pressure on the muffler (meaning that all clamps are loose).

Even with the muffler just hanging (with no other piping connected to it) I have to put a lot of force on the muffler (stretching the rubber hangers) to get the passenger side close to correct fitment. I'll play with it more today, but i'm not sure how the piping could even put enough pressure on the muffler to correct this (I have to put some muscle into pulling down on the muffler while laying under it to get it close to correct).

EDIT: I'm also going to try just removing the front right rubber hanger completely. That may help as it seems to be the one that needs the most stretching to make things fit properly.

[Jesse36m3]

That's funny. I just got an MXP Comp RS exhaust a couple months ago and the passenger side was misaligned by a LOT. I mean it was almost touching the exhaust hole cutout in the bumper. Ordered it from 86speed .. had to bring it to a muffler shop because I don't have a torch. They heated it up and bent it back into place then reimbursed me the hour labor.

Edit: I know it's not the exact same exhaust, however, it was manufactured by the same company.

[ajcarson11]

Originally Posted by Jesse36m3

That's funny. I just got an MXP Comp RS exhaust a couple months ago and the passenger side was misaligned by a LOT. I mean it was almost touching the exhaust hole cutout in the bumper. Ordered it from 86speed .. had to bring it to a muffler shop because I don't have a torch. They heated it up and bent it back into place then reimbursed me the hour labor.

Edit: I know it's not the exact same exhaust, however, it was manufactured by the same company.

Thanks Jesse -- I don't know for sure yet, but I'm going to guess I may be in the same boat. The passenger side is just a millimeter or two from touching the exhaust hole cutout.

[Kordless]

Hi aj, I have this same exact exhaust and mine fits fine.

There are 14mm (I believe) bolts on top of each of the tips. You can loosen those and you can adjust the tips until they fit perfectly. Don't forget to torque to 30 ft/lb

If that isn't the problem, try adjusting the clamps on the right hand side of the exhaust.

But if it's truly an issue with the hanger, none of these will work.

[ajcarson11]

Originally Posted by Kordless

Hi aj, I have this same exact exhaust and mine fits fine.

There are 14mm (I believe) bolts on top of each of the tips. You can loosen those and you can adjust the tips until they fit perfectly. Don't forget to torque to 30 ft/lb

If that isn't the problem, try adjusting the clamps on the right hand side of the exhaust.

But if it's truly an issue with the hanger, none of these will work.

Thanks! I did try adjusting the tips.. not much improvement.

When you say 'clamps on the right hand side of the exhaust' what are you referring to? Did the kit come with hanger clamps (to allow extra positioning of the rubber hangers)?

[Kordless]

Originally Posted by ajcarson11

Thanks! I did try adjusting the tips.. not much improvement.

When you say 'clamps on the right hand side of the exhaust' what are you referring to? Did the kit come with hanger clamps (to allow extra positioning of the rubber hangers)?

It's been a while since I've installed mine, I meant this clamp here:

[coxxoc]

I also have this exhaust and have the same issue with the passenger side fitment as ajcarson11. I wrote it off as being a cheaper exhaust that sound great. It was only 70% of the price of the Apexi RS Evo Extreme it replaced and the quality of finish shows that. I wanted this exhaust to stop the bark at startup and rasp during WOT I experienced with the Apexi unit. Objective accomplished.

I'll have a muffler shop adjust the hanger position on the passenger side. It is a simple cut and weld fix. Minor adjustments/modifications are par for the course in automotive aftermarket. I'm very happy with the system overall.

[ajcarson11]

Here are some more photos of the situation. I took a look under the car again at it today -- All things considered I believe it to be a hanger misalignment. I removed one hanger and it didn't make any difference -- So i'd imagine at least 2 hangers have to move.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by Jesse36m3

That's funny. I just got an MXP Comp RS exhaust a couple months ago and the passenger side was misaligned by a LOT. I mean it was almost touching the exhaust hole cutout in the bumper. Ordered it from 86speed .. had to bring it to a muffler shop because I don't have a torch. They heated it up and bent it back into place then reimbursed me the hour labor.

Edit: I know it's not the exact same exhaust, however, it was manufactured by the same company.

We worked with MXP on this and the muffler is developed completely different from all their other systems.

Originally Posted by coxxoc

I also have this exhaust and have the same issue with the passenger side fitment as ajcarson11. I wrote it off as being a cheaper exhaust that sound great. It was only 70% of the price of the Apexi RS Evo Extreme it replaced and the quality of finish shows that. I wanted this exhaust to stop the bark at startup and rasp during WOT I experienced with the Apexi unit. Objective accomplished.

I'll have a muffler shop adjust the hanger position on the passenger side. It is a simple cut and weld fix. Minor adjustments/modifications are par for the course in automotive aftermarket. I'm very happy with the system overall.

Send me some photos at david@counterspacegarage.com. I'm interested in collecting this information. Thank you!

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by ajcarson11

Here are some more photos of the situation. I took a look under the car again at it today -- All things considered I believe it to be a hanger misalignment. I removed one hanger and it didn't make any difference -- So i'd imagine at least 2 hangers have to move.

Please send to my e-mail at david@counterspacegarage.com. I had a look on our messages and something is not right. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!

[ajcarson11]

Originally Posted by CSG David

Please send to my e-mail at david@counterspacegarage.com. I had a look on our messages and something is not right. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!

Sent. Thanks David.

[coxxoc]

Originally Posted by CSG David

Send me some photos at david@counterspacegarage.com. I'm interested in collecting this information. Thank you!

Done. Thanks for taking the time to provide ongoing support of the platform and your products.